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Health Department Updates Guidance On Zika Virus Prevention

Today the City’s Health Department updated its guidance for New Yorkers (from Harlem to Hollis) regarding prevention of the Zika virus. Our main message remains: pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant should postpone travel to affected countries. Additionally, while we await further guidance from CDC on the role of condoms in preventing transmission of Zika virus, we remind New Yorkers that condoms are highly effective at preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The City also urges New York City healthcare providers to offer laboratory testing for Zika and ultrasound examinations to pregnant women who traveled to affected areas. The Health Department’s new guidance incorporates the most up to date recommendations from the state Health Department and CDC. As new information becomes available we will update our guidance accordingly.

The new recommendations include:

All men, women, and children who travel to Zika-affected regions should employ measures to avoid mosquito bites. If returning from travel during New York City’s mosquito season (April through November), returned travelers should employ similar measures for 14 days after arrival in NYC to prevent transmission to mosquitoes, which otherwise could infect other NYC residents.

Women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant should postpone travel to Zika-affected regions until further notice

o For Pregnant Women: Until we know more, if a male sexual partner has traveled to or lives in an area with active Zika virus transmission, the male and female partners should abstain from sex or use condoms the right way every time they have vaginal, anal, and oral sex for the duration of the pregnancy.

Obstetricians caring for women who traveled while pregnant or became pregnant while in a Zika-affected region, whether or not they have symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection, should consider offering their patients